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Gloucester set to pounce for another Springbok - reports
By Alex Shaw
Gloucester could be ready to add another South African international to their ranks for next season, with Andries Coetzee linked with the Cherry and Whites, per a report by Netwerk24.
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Coetzee, who plays for the Lions, would be the fourth member of the Johannesburg-based franchise to head to Gloucester, with Ruan Ackermann joining last season and the trio of Jaco Kriel, Franco Mostert and Ruan Dreyer set to arrive later this summer.
Johan Ackermann has been keen to bring a number of his former charges with him to the Premiership and after having missed out on Rohan Janse van Rensburg to Sale Sharks, there could be space in next season’s budget for the addition of Coetzee.
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A full-back who is also adept on the wing, Coetzee would add to the options of Jason Woodward and Tom Marshall at 15, as well as complementing wings Ollie Thorley, Henry Purdy and Charlie Sharples at Kingsholm.
The Springbok was linked with a move to Toulon earlier in the season, although that rumour has since quietened down and an opportunity to link up with his former coach might be too good to turn down for Coetzee.
With van Rensburg and Faf de Klerk both contracted to Sale, a third of the Lions XV that contested the 2016 Super Rugby final will be plying their trade in the Gallagher Premiership next season, whilst several others continue to be linked with big money moves to France and England.
Head coach Swys de Bruin will now have his work cut out trying to keep the likes of Malcolm Marx, Warren Whiteley, Elton Jantjies and Ruan Combrinck for the coming seasons, who have watched de Klerk, Duane Vermeulen and Willie le Roux all spend time in Europe, yet still make valuable contributions to the Springboks under new coach Rassie Erasmus.
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